5 reasons SF 49ers bounce back with win vs. Rams in Week 6

No. 1: SF 49ers can run the ball down Rams’ throats

The Rams own the league’s 13th-ranked scoring offense and are ranked No. 4 in total yards gained. It’s a prolific unit, and there’s no getting around that statement.

The best way to stop it? Don’t allow it to take the field.

San Francisco 49ers

The Football 101 way to do this would be for the SF 49ers to establish their running game early and often, then not abandon it in the second half after they (hopefully) have a lead. While this is a fairly simplistic take and avoids the “how?” question needing to be asked, it’s important to note teams can run on Los Angeles.

Pretty effectively, too.

Football Outsiders currently ranks the Rams defense No. 24 against the run, and they’re also allowing opponents to pick up 4.7 yards per carry (23rd). True, the Niners run-blocking abilities have been atrocious this season (31st, per Football Outsiders). But that somehow overlooks the fact the SF 49ers’ top two running backs, Raheem Mostert and Jerick McKinnon, are averaging 7 and 5.5 yards per carry, respectively, which ranks first and sixth among qualifiers.

Yes, the Niners are still able to move the ball on the ground.

And it should be an approach Kyle Shanahan and Co. continue to build upon, especially considering the early stat of San Francisco running just 25 percent of the time.

Doing this, controlling the clock and denying the Rams offense chances to take the field will be essential in the SF 49ers securing a Week 6 win.